Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted with an effective date of June 1, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to July 30, 2020, for the grant of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.,The petition to readjudicate the claim for entitlement to service connection for traumatic deviated nasal septum is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate opinions and a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The claims file should be reviewed, and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner other than the previous examiners should be obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities from July 6, 2021 have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The appeal for service connection of a lumbar spine scar is dismissed as moot. The right hip scar and sleep apnea claims are remanded due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea disability is related to his service, including as secondary to a service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD with depression and insomnia, should be remanded due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding direct service connection and aggravation by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected back and leg disabilities, along with his psychiatric condition, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no competent and credible evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for further development regarding service connection for sleep apnea with secondary chronic fatigue.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected asthma, finding that OSA is caused and/or aggravated by his asthma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is not related to his active duty service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 100 percent, and he has additional disabilities independently ratable at or above 60 percent. The Board granted SMC at the housebound rate based on his service-connected conditions. However, the claim for SMC(k) related to erectile dysfunction caused by medication for major depressive disorder was remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an adequate secondary service connection opinion regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, which is claimed as being related to his service-connected mood disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that his current diagnosis is caused by or proximately due to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected knee and hip disabilities, with obesity serving as an intermediate step.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy with an effective date of December 30, 2020.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for Meniere's syndrome and ear conditions, including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, are dismissed due to untimely filing of the VA Form 10182. The appeal for an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for obstructive sleep apnea is also dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected right hand crush injury residuals. The VA needs to provide an opinion on both direct and secondary service connection.